Housing and mounting for the electrode chambers of luminescent tubes and the like



G. LAMY Dec. 13, 1 932.

HOUSING AND MOUNTING FOR THE ELECTRODE CHAMBERS OF LUMINESCENT TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed April 13. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jill/finial" Egg sslamv Dec. 13, 1932. G LAMY 1,890,617

HOUSING AND MOUNTING FOR THE ELECTRODE CHAMBERS OF LUMINESCENT TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed April 13, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet ,2

l v jwenihr Esaryaslamy Dec. 13, 1932. LAMY HOUSING AND MOUNTING FOR THE ELECTRODE CHAMBERS 0F LUMINESCENT TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed April 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ina Hill/"[1110]! r with more neon and ot er lummous as discharge tubes,

rete ted use 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE oipomns or uommeunnnc. banana. mama so more. neon ennmr. anvnn'rrsme or mm omen;

K HOUSIHG AND IQ UNil'lllil'G 10B THE EMF/ODE cnmm OI -II TUBES Application fled #1311118 1981. Serial No. 539,157.

This invention relates to improvements in housings and mountings for the electrode "chambers of luminescent tubes and the like articular and direct reference to as used in connection wit advertising signs and -for display 'purposes and the obyect of the invention isto provide an im roved formof housing and mounting for t e electrode chambers of such tubes whereby certain important advantages may be obtained over the practice as hitherto followed in this connection. R

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved construction which will permit ready and convenient replacement of the individual letters or sections of a sign thus enabling the various component letters or sections of a sign to be easily replaced atm will, therefore simplifying breakage replacements and also facilitating the altering or rearrangement of the sign.

A further object is to provide an improved manner of making the connection between v 925 the high tension wire and the electrode of 40 housing and at the tube whereby a more perfect and reliable connection is made and whereby the likelihood of shortcircuiting is greatly minimized.

A further object is to provide an improved w reliable and simplified manner of retaining the electrode chamber within the housing 7 whereby the operation of mounting the tube in position is made extremely simple, consisting merely of inserting the electrode chamber into, thehousing upon whichinsertion it is efie'ctively and securely held in position within the housing by unimproved spring arrangement mounted within the I 4 within the housing whereby the retaining means normally operates to urge the'electrode chamber inwardly of the housing instead of outwardly as in housings hitherto used.

A further object is to provide an improved manner of establishing electrical contact bethe same time establish a" good electrical connection between the high tension cable and the electrode.

tween the electrode within the electrode chamber and the high tension cable.

A further object isto provide an improved manner of mounting the electrode housing upon the panel of a si whereby the operationof mounting and ismounting therefrom is extremely simple and does not involve the use of any screws, boltsor securing means other than a simple spring clip and whereby the housing may the instantl attached or dismounted from the sign pane by the simple removal of this spring cl p.

A further object is to provide a housingin which that portion of the housing which is exposed at the front face of the sign panel may be readily andconveniently painted or A further object, is to rovide a housing which will possess eater insulating properties than housings itherto used for this pur- P Z colored to conform to the colour of the sign.

The; invention consists essentially of an improved housing and mounting for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube constructed and arranged as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which' Figure 1 is a top planview oi the improved housing and associated parts showing the manner of its mounting an connection to a si panel. igure 2 lookin in the direction of vthe arrow.

l Fi re 3 is a view taken similarly to Figure I but with the sign panel and housing shown in section to illustrate the interior construe. ;zti pn of the housing and the manner in which tiieelectrode chamber,is held therein.

Figure 4 is a section-taken on the line 4- e of Figure 3,

is a front elevation of Figure 1 Figure ,5- is a detached fro entary sec- 7 I tional detail of the inner end 0 the electrode chamber of aluminescgnt tube showing the manner in which, accordingto the present 1uvent1on,.the, lead in wires. from the electrode of the tube underlie a metallic band encircling the electrode chamber.

Figure 6 is a detached view of the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube as shown in Figure .3 and as fitted in accordance with the present'invention.

Figure-7 is a detached view of a U-shape spring clip mounted within the housing in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is an edge view of the spring clip shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side view of 'a split metallic 'band encircling the electrode chamber in accordance with the present invention.

. Figure 10 is an end 'view of Figure 9.

Figure- 11 is a view of a spring clip employed in connection with the housing for securing the housing in position upon the:

. tain desired section of a display device.

At each endof the tube 20 is formed an electrode chamber 21 within which the electrode proper of the tube, indicated-by the numeral 22, is mounted and, in operation,

upon the two electrodes 22 in the opposite ends of the tube being connected to a source of high tension-current a luminous discharge is established within the tube 20.

In the making and operation of advertis- "ing signs of this class, it is a; great atlvanpresent invention.

tage to=arrange for. the mounting of the individual tubes forming the different parts of the sign .with the greatest possible facility and this is one of the main features of the In the form illustrated the lead in wires 23 which are connected to the electrode 22 a lead outwardly through the end-of the electrode chamber throughthe fused tip 24 which Seals the inner end of the electrode chamber,

these wires 23extending exteriorlv'of the chamber 21 and being bent over to'lie along .the'exterior surface of the chamber.

, A split metal band 25 encircles thechamber 21 intermediately of its length and the ends of the lead in wires 23 underlie this band so that they are firmly held between the band and the-wall of the chamber 21 by theresilient action of the band 25 and there- 7 A 77 fore a very close, intimate andcomplete elec-.

tricalc'ontact is established between the band I 25 andthe wires 23 so that this band 25 is in electrical communication, with the electrode 22 within the chamber 21.

The electrode housing, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a tubular casing 26 preferably made of porcelain but which may be made of glass, pyrex or other suitable substance and this housing, is of novel form as will now be described. v

The casing 26 comprisesa hollow cylindrical interiorv 27 whichis 0 en at its front end to permit insertion theremto of'the electrode chamber 21'and isforme at its rear end with a laterally directed el ow 28 which elbow is formed with an orifice 29 to permit passage of a cable 30 containingthe high tension wire 31 so that this wire 31 may be connected to the electrode chamber, as will be hereinafter explained.

The housing is formed at'its front end with an annular enlargement 32 presenting a rcarwardly directed shoulder-33 and immediately to the rear of this shoulder33 the -housing'is formed with'an annular protu-' berance or rib 34 so that between the shoulder 33 and the protuberance 34 there is formed about the circumference of the chamber 26 an annular recess 35', the purpose of wh ch will be presently explained.-

Formed about the interior periphery of the casing 26 intermediately of its length is an annular recess 36 and in the-rear or inner' end of the casing and centrally thereof, is formed a recess 37 which will presently be referred to.

Detachably mounte within the inner end of the housing is a substantially U-shaped spring clip 38, the legs of which are of 'concavo-convex form, as clearly shown in the drawings. Extending through the base of this clip is a screw. or binding post 39 which carries a nut 40. Thisclip 38 is-mounted within the housing and is so positioned therein, that the legs 41 thereof, -extend axially along the inner wallsof the casing partially of the length thereof, and the clip is retained in position within the casing by the engagement of the front ends 42 of the le 41 within the annular recess 36 and also y the engagement of the endof the screw 39 within the central recess 37 in the inner end of the casing. v

The high tension cable 30 extends through the orifice 29 in the elbow 28 at the rear end of the housing and the inner end of the wire 31 is secured to the spring clip 38 by means of the screw 39, so that an intimate and close electrical contact, is established between the spring clip 38 andthe wire 31.

The Sign panel 43 is provided with a suit able ori ce 44 so that the casing 26 may be passed rearwardly through the opening 44 from the front of the panel which opera ti on the rearwardly directed shoulder 33 abuts against the front faceofthe panel 43 and limits the penetration of the casmg'with as the metal respect to the panel. The housing is retained in this position by simply mounting the spring clip45 upon the casing 26 so that it engages within the external annular recess formed between the annular rib 34 and the shoulder 33, this clip being pressed against the rear face of thepanel by the rib 34 so that the panel 43 is gripped between the clip and the shoulder 33 and the housing is securely held in-position. The spring clip 45 is of such shape, as shown in Figure 4, that it clips firmly about the circumference of the casing 26. i

The split metal band 25 is mounted upon the electrode chamber by simply slipping it over the end thereof and in its mounted position is as illustrated in Figure 6. k llhe manner of employing the housing in the present invention is-as follows:

The sign panel 43 is provided with the necessary openings 44 properly spaced and arranged and the housings are mounted in posi-,

tion as previously described, by simply passing them rearwardly throughthcse openings and securing them in position by attaching the spring clips $5. This is an extremely simle and convenient operation and does not vinvolve the use of any screws for attaching the housing, nor the provision of any screw holes in the panel. Previous to mounting the housin' upon the panel the spring clips 38 would e assembled therein and the high tension wire 31 secured to these clips.

upon the panel, in order to attach the various letters or sections of the sign it is simply I necessary to insert the electrode chambers v 21 of the various tubes into the pro r housings and the simple operation of inserting 49 them also securely mounts the tube in operative position and establishes the proper electrical contact. The construction is such that a very intimate and close electrical contact is established with the electrode 22 of the tube band 25 is in electrical contact with the electrode 22 and the concavo-convex legs 41 of the spring clip 38 press inwardly l u on this'band 25 which is located intermedlately of the length of the electrode chamber 21 and thus form, a close-electrical contact between the s ring 0 ip 38-and the band 25 and since the igh tension wire 31 is connected to the spring clip communication is established from the wire 31 to the electrode 22.

A featureof the present invention is the manner ,in which the electrode chamber is held within the housing and it will be noted by reference to Figure 3 that theaction of the; spring clip 38' is to urge the electrode chamber into or 'rearwardly' of the housing v rather than to urge it outwardly, as is the case with many constructions hitherto used, in Y which a coil spring was sively manufactured and which is of extreme- After the housings have been thus mounted 38 a, perfect electrical casing, said ei'nployedto engagethe inner end of the electrode chamber.

It will also be noted that the housing of the present invention is of extremel simple construction and is in the formoi a one piece structure which may be simply and inexpen' 7 0 1y strong and durable form. Also, the connection of the high tension wire is completely covered and is of such form that the possi-' bility of short circuiting is very remote.

In constructing the housing of porcelain the entire external surface thereof would be glazed with the exception of the front face of y the enlargement 32 which might be unglazed so that this enlargement which is exposed on the front face of the sign panel might readily be painted or coloured to agree with the 'colouringof the front face of the panel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved housing and mounting for the electrode 35 chamber of a luminescent tube whereby the objects set forth have been attained.

Various modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense,.and it is desired that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in the prior'art or are set forth in the accompariying claims.

I claim: v

1. In combination, a housing for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising, a tubular casing having its front endopen for the reception of the electrode chamber of the tube, and provided at its rear end with a cable admitting orifice, the inner wall of the casing formed intermediately of its len h with an annular recess, a U-shaped spring clip within the rear end of thecasing, the legs of said clip directed forwardly and extending axially along the inner wall of the casing, said legs being of concavo-convex form and adapted to grip therebetween the electrode chamber intermediately of its length to retain it in position within the housing, the forwar ends of the legs of the spring clip engaging withinthe annular recess in the casing.

2. In combination, a housing for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising, a tubular casing havingits front end open for the reception of the clectrodechamber of the tube, ahd provided at itsrear on with a cable admitting orifice, the inner wa ofthe casing formed intermediately of its length with an annular recess, a U-shaped spring clip within the rear end of the casing, the legs of said clip, directed'forwardly and extending axially along the inner wall of the legs being of concavo-convex. form and adapted togrip thereb'etween the electrode chamber intermediately of its length to retain it in position within h hous- 13 its , ing, the forward ends of the legs of the spring clip engaging within the annular recess in the casing, a binding post screw extending rearwardly through the base of the spring clip. the rear wall of the casing formed centrally with a recess into which the end of said screw is adapted to extend.

3. A housing and mounting for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising, the combination with the electrode chamber of the tube and the electrode therein, of a metal band encircling the electrode chamber intermediately of its length and in electrical contact with the electrode within said chamber, a tubular casing having its front end 0 en for the reception of the electrode ClIiIIDl J QI and provided at its rear end with a cable admitting orifice, spring means within the casing, said spring means adapted to grip the band to retain the electrode chamber in position within the housing, and wire attaching means carried by the spring means.

4'. A housing and mounting for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising, the combination with the electrode chamber of the tube, the electrode therein and the lead in wires extending from the electrode exteriorly of the chamber, of a metal band encircling the electrode chamber intermediately of its length, the lead in wires in conducting electrical contact with said band, a tubular casing having its front end open for reception of the electrode chamber and provided at its rear end with a cable admitting orifice, ed to grip the band to retain the electrode chamber in position within the housing,'and wire attaching means carried by the spring.

5. A housing and mounting 'for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising, thecombination with the electrode chamber of the tube, the electrode therein and a the lead in wires extending from the electrode I derlving said exteriorlv of they chamber, of a split metal and encircling the electrode chamber intermediately of its length. the lead in wires unband, a-tubular casing havin its front end open for the reception of the electrode chamber and provided at its rear 'th end with a cable admitting orifice, sprin means within the casing adapted to grip the band to retain the electrode chamber in pos1t1on within the housing, and wire attachmg means carried by the spring.

housing and mounting for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tubecomprising 1n combmation, a panel upon'which the housing is to be mounted, tlteelectr'ode chamber of the tube and the electrode therein, the lead in wires extending from the electrode exteriorly of the chamber, a split metal band encircling the electrode chamber intermediately of its length, the' lead in wires undtgrlfygng sald band, a tubular casing having 1 spring means within the casing adapt-- -trode exteriorly of the chamber,

orifice, the inner wall,

g end of the casing,

nt end open for the reception of the electrode'chamber and provided at its rear end with a cable admitting orifice, spring means within the housing, wire attaching means carried by said spring means, and spring means carried by the housing for retaining it in position upon the panel.

7. A housing and mounting for the electrode chamber of a luminescent tube comprising in combination with the. electrode chamber of the tube, the electrode therein and the lead in wires extending from the electrode exteriorly of the chamber, of a s lit metal band encircling the electrode. chamber intermediately of its length, the lead in wires underlying said band, a tubular casing having its' front end open for the reception of the electrode chamber of the tube and provided at its rear end with a cable admlt- 'tingorifice, the inner wall of the casing formed intermediately. of its length with an annular recess, a U-shaped spring clip within the rear end of the casingfthe legs of said clip directed forwardly and extending axially along the inner wall of the casing, said legs being of eoncavo-convex form and adapt- 'ed to grip therebetween the band to retain the electrode chamber in position within the housing, theforward ends of the legs of the spring clips engaging within the annular recess in the casing.

8. A housing and mounting for the electrode chamber-of a luminescent tube comprising in-combination, a panel upon which the housing is to be mounted, the electrode chamber of the tube and the electrode therein, the lead in wires extending from the eleca split metal band encircling the electrode chamber .intermediately of its length, the lead infwires' underlying said band, a tubular casing having its front end open for the reception of therelectrode chamber'of the tube and provided at its rear end witha cable admitting of the casing formed mtermediately of its length with an annular recess, a U-shaped spring clip within the rear the legs of said clip directed forwardly and extending axially along e inner wall ofthe casing, said legs being 5% of concavo-convex form and adapted to grip therebetween the split metal band to retain the electrode chamber in position within the housng, the forward ends of the legs of the spring .chp engaging within the annular recess of the casing, by the housing uponthe panel.

In witness whereof-I have hereunto set my hand. GEORGES LAMY.

and spring means carried for retaining it in position 

